Detroit sweeps Yankees; Cards lead Giants

By the CNN Wire Staff

Updated 0516 GMT (1216 HKT) October 19, 2012

Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – The Detroit Tigers celebrate after beating the New York Yankees 8-1 to win the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park on October 18, 2012, in Detroit, Michigan. Look back at Game 3 of the ALCS.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Tigers pitcher Phil Coke celebrates after the final out of Game 4 as the Tigers clinch the American League Championship and move on to the World Series.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Delmon Young, left, and Jhonny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers celebrate after scoring on Peralta's two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning against the New York Yankees during Game 4 of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, October 18.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Ichiro Suzuki of the New York Yankees stands at the wall as fans cheer a two-run homerun by Jhonny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Andy Dirks of the Detroit Tigers is forced out at second base by Eduardo Nunez of the New York Yankees.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer tips his cap to the fans as he walks to the dugout after being taken out of the game in the top of the sixth inning against the New York Yankees.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Pitcher CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees wipes his forehead during Game 4.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Prince Fielder of the Detroit Tigers hits a single in the first inning against the New York Yankees.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Omar Infante of the Detroit Tigers scores on a RBI single hit by Delmon Young in the first inning.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Third baseman Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees has been struggling at the plate and was benched for Thursday's game.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Max Scherzer of the Detroit Tigers throws a pitch against the New York Yankees on Thursday.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Robinson Cano of the Yankees arguees with home plate umpire Jeff Nelson after striking out in the first inning.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Young hits a RBI single in the first inning against the Yankees.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Infante celebrates in the dugout with teammates after scoring in the first inning.

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Game 4 of the ALCS: The best photos15 photos

Game 4 of the ALCS – Mark Teixeira of the New York Yankees stretches for the ball as Infante beats the throw to reach first safely.

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Story highlights

Tigers first team to sweep Yankees in postseason in 32 years

Delmon Young wins MVP award for the league championship series

New York sets mark for lowest team batting average in a postseason

World Series begins Wednesday at either St. Louis or San Francisco

Miguel Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta smashed two-run homers off Yankees star pitcher C.C. Sabathia to propel the Detroit Tigers back into the World Series.

Austin Jackson also homered for the Tigers in Game 4, who handed the Yankees their first postseason wipeout since 1980, with an 8-1 victory at Detroit.

"So hopefully we've quieted some doubters now. The guys just stepped it up when we had to," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I have the utmost respect for the (Yankees). If someone would have told me we would sweep the Yankees in this series, I would have told them they were crazy."

Delmon Young was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the American League Championship Series after going 6 for 17 with six RBI.

The Yankees, who played Thursday with their captain, Derek Jeter, managed only two hits against Tigers starter Matt Scherzer and three relievers. It was the continuation of the worst postseason by an offense in major league baseball history. The Yankees hit an all-time postseason low of .188, according to ESPN.

Game 4 of the NLCS: The best photos 5 photos

Game 4 of the NLCS: The best photos5 photos

Game 4 of the NLCS – JJon Jay and Allen Craig of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after Jay scores on a single by Matt Holliday in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Busch Stadium on October 18, in St Louis, Missouri. Look back at Game 2 of the NLCS.

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Game 4 of the NLCS: The best photos5 photos

Game 4 of the NLCS – Starting pitcher Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants pitches in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.

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Game 4 of the NLCS: The best photos5 photos

Game 4 of the NLCS – Angel Pagan of the San Francisco Giants makes a catch at the wall on a ball hit by Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals.

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Game 4 of the NLCS: The best photos5 photos

Game 4 of the NLCS – Hunter Pence of the San Francisco Giants is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the second inning.

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Game 4 of the NLCS: The best photos5 photos

Game 4 of the NLCS – Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants.

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EXPAND GALLERY

"There are a lot of good hitters in that room, and to be able to shut a lot of them down is very surprising to me," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

The Tigers next will play the winner of the National League Championship Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants. The Cardinals lead the series three games to one, after beating the Giants 8-3 Thursday night.

The World Series is scheduled to begin Wednesday at the home of the National League representative. The Tigers have made 11 appearances in the World Series, winning four times. They lost to the Cardinals in 2006.